More than 120 delegates from across Southeast Asia gathered for a three-day diplomatic forum to strengthen regional cooperation and law enforcement networks against threats to the region's cultural heritage.

The ASEAN Regional Dialogue met from 22 to 24 June at the Clark Marriott Hotel, bringing together senior government officials, cultural experts, museum professionals, and law enforcement personnel from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts under Chairperson Eric Zerrudo, the forum focused on exchanging law enforcement experiences, addressing operational vulnerabilities, and protecting historical sites and artifacts from transnational threats.

The initiative built upon existing ASEAN-Italy cooperation networks to mirror global models of preservation and artifact security.

Retired Police Major Gen. Lina Sarmiento, Clark Development Corp. security services group vice president, and Tourism Promotions division manager Elenita Lorenzo attended the closing ceremony on behalf of CDC president and CEO Agnes Devanadera.

Sarmiento reaffirmed the state-run corporation's commitment to supporting regional cultural security initiatives, noting that the forum aligns with local strategies to position the freeport as a secure hub for cultural tourism and exchange.

The dialogue is part of a series of rotating sectoral forums hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to foster regional consensus on critical issues, including cultural heritage protection, human rights and transnational security.